OL Reign Signs Five Players as National Team Replacement Players
OL Reign today announced that it has signed forward Jadyn Edwards, midfielder Kelly Fitzgerald, defender Kelly Ann Livingstone, midfielder Natalie Viggiano and forward McKenzie Weinert as National Team Replacement Players (NTRP). Per league and club policy, financial terms of the deals were not disclosed.
"We're pleased to add Jadyn, Natalie, and Kenzie to the active roster. In my period of time here, I've seen how integrated they already are with the team and staff; Kelly I've watched since she was a youth player and collegian, and Kelly Ann worked with Scott Parkinson at Gotham FC. Our staff has tracked them both as they excelled with Danish sides HB Køge and Fortuna Hjørring, respectively, and are confident they’ll be great additions to OL Reign whilst a significant group of our players are competing for their respective countries for a World Cup title in New Zealand & Australia,” said general manager Lesle Gallimore. “These five will help us continue our chase for the Challenge Cup, the Shield, and the NWSL Championship and have earned this opportunity.”
Jadyn Edwards joined OL Reign ahead of the 2023 season as part of the team’s 32-player preseason roster after playing five years at the University of New Mexico (2018-2023). The Mill Creek, WA native was initially selected by Racing Louisville FC in the third round of the 2023 NWSL Draft.
Through five years, Edwards tallied 31 goals and 24 assists in 94 games played, ending her collegiate career ranked first in UNM history in assists and games played and third in goals scored. Edwards is also a five-time Mountain West Conference champion and a four-time Mountain West All-Conference selection with the Lobos.
Kelly Fitzgerald joins OL Reign from HB Køge in Denmark, where the team most recently finished first in the Kvindeligaen. The 28-year-old midfielder has spent the last three years with the Danish club, finishing first in the league all three years. Fitzgerald made 39 starts in 42 appearances with HB Køge, scoring 10 goals and adding two assists. Prior to playing for HB Køge, the midfielder made her professional debut with Stabæk in Norway, starting in all 22 games played in 2018.
Originally from Laguna Niguel in California, Fitzgerald played four years (2014-2017) at the University of California, Berkeley, recording 13 goals and nine assists in 71 appearances (59 starts).
Kelly Ann Livingstone also joins OL Reign from Denmark, after starting in all 13 games for Fortuna Hjørring in the Kvindeligaen. Among the 13 appearances, Livingstone helped the club win five games and earn three clean sheets.
The Glen Ridge, New Jersey native was selected 24th overall in the 2022 NWSL Draft by NJ/NY Gotham FC. Before getting drafted, the 24-year-old spent four years at Georgetown University (2017-2020), starting in 97 games for the Hoyas and recording 12 goals and six assists. As a senior, Livingstone was named to the All-Big East First Team and earned Big East Defensive Player of the Year.
Selected as the 46th overall pick in the 2023 NWSL Draft by OL Reign, Natalie Viggiano officially joins the club’s active roster. Prior to the start of the regular season, Viggiano appeared in the club’s international friendly against Club América Femenil as a substitute. Following the friendly on February 25, the midfielder made an appearance in two of the club’s three matches during the Portland preseason tournament.
At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Viggiano finished her collegiate career with 16 goals and eight assists in 83 games played. As a graduate student in 2022, Viggiano started in all 19 matches and led the Badgers in shots (37), scoring six goals, with four of them being game-winning goals.
McKenzie Weinert first joined the club as a non-roster invitee ahead of the 2023 season as a graduate from the University of Washington. During the preseason, the former Husky appeared in the club’s international friendly against Club América Femenil as a substitute in the 86th minute, scoring just three minutes later to help the team secure a 3-1 win at Starfire.
As a graduate student for the Huskies, Weinert spent two seasons (2021-2022) at Washington, appearing in 37 games and recording eight goals and five assists. The Milwaukie, Oregon native made her collegiate debut at Oregon State University, playing three years for the Beavers (2018-2020). Weinert finished her time in Oregon with 50 games played, 13 goals and three assists.
“All five of these players have earned a spot on our roster,” said head coach Laura Harvey. “We’re adding two players who developed their skills overseas in Denmark and gained tremendous experience and Jadyn, Natalie and McKenzie have a true understanding of the way we play and have all proven that they deserve to compete for us. I’m excited to bring in this group and see what they will contribute while several of our players will be proudly representing their countries in the World Cup.”